We Are The World

July 8, 2013 7:48 PM

What would be the quickest and easiest way to compile a series of lists of 25-30 first and last names, male and female, of 6-7 ethnicities? I need them sorted by ethnicity and the names can't be famous people.

I'll take both tips on how to find this sort of data, as well as e.g. a list of Peruvian television presenters or the 2013 graduating class of the National University of Mongolia.

posted by A god with hooves, a god with horns to Society & Culture (7 answers total)

This might help: List of most popular given names.
posted by demiurge at 7:53 PM on July 8, 2013

Kate Monk's Onomastikon.
posted by capricorn at 7:53 PM on July 8, 2013 [4 favorites]

If they don't have to be the names of real people, The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook has done the research for you.

If they do have to be the names of real (but non-famous) people, I'd still start with that book for inspiration but then plug a sample last name from a particular ethnic heritage into Facebook's search box and see who comes up. For example, searching for "Nguyen" will produce a list of (mostly) Vietnamese people.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:07 PM on July 8, 2013

There is the Fake Name Generator, which lets you pick ethnicities.
posted by drwelby at 8:07 PM on July 8, 2013 [3 favorites]

You can get a swarm of Japanese names from here.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:53 PM on July 8, 2013

The NY Marathon has a search function that allows you to search by country.
posted by vespabelle at 9:14 PM on July 8, 2013

Best answer: Behind the Name has you covered.
posted by Garm at 11:23 PM on July 8, 2013